This is a view point of a teenage girl for parents that are worried about their teenage daughters. It shows experiences and facts about how teenage girls. It shows things that we struggle and more.
What many have failed to see is that being a teenage girl now is a lot different than it was a decade ago. Being a teenage girl of sixteen, I am truly experiencing right now. How many of these writer can say that. Oh sure, some are women, but are they living it. Are any of the other people writing on this topic having to deal with all of the stress that comes with being a teenage girl. I think not. Being a teenager is hard enough whether your in the "in" crowd or not. When I was fourteen I was in the "in" crowd. It was one of the few things that I thought I could control. Looking back, almost three years ago, the way I thought, I still think that that was one of the few things in my life that I could control. Maybe not one hundred percent, but it was controlled. Your probably sitting at your computer and doing one of two things (one more likelier than the other) your either wondering what in the world a teenage girl has to be stressed about (more likely) or your agreeing with every word on this page. You decide. For the ones that are wondering what a teenager would be stress about, let me take you into a mind of a hurt and bittered teenage girls heart (a.k.a. Me).
You ready? Okay close your eyes. Oh wait don't do that you won't be able to read the page if you do and I don't what that to happen. Just imagine a popular fourteen your old girl. You got that. Okay keep that image in your head and as I go along add the things I say to the image. Now it was my seventh grade year. I had pretty good grades (until my eight grade year I was in special education). I was in foster care. I was cheerful all the time (It was a mask. There were many nights I cried myself to sleep). I attend church Saturday, Sunday and youth group (I was playing church). Oh yeah, I also had bulimia. Now your probably asking yourself why would I would I do all that. I did all that because I wanted to please everyone I knew even if that meant hurting everyone else along the way. The summer right before high school open my eyes. Now picture that same girl again and again change the image as you read. No longer in foster care (back with mom), no longer bulimic (praise God), still playing church and still crying myself to sleep. Oh and no longer in the "in" crowd, but I was still miserable.
Why, you ask? I felt this why for several reason. I felt worthless, depressed, like God had abandon me and that I was in control of my own life. Honestly, I didn't want to be the one to control my life, but I wasn't about to let any other person do it for me. Anyways, two weeks before I was suppose to start high school I went on this retreat with my church. God really spoke to me during that week. I felt like God had been trying to give me a message for the first few days of the trip. So on the third night during after glow, I open my heart to receive Gods message was "Let Me be in control and see what true joy feels like". The next day I recommended my life to God and the next day after that I was rebaptized. Since then God has given me must joy. Now what is the point of me telling you all this? Don't worry, I'm getting to that. Here are a few easy (not very, but very hard) way you can help that young teenage girl to stop being mean. First trust her with important things that you wouldn't normally trust her on.
Why? Well for a couple of reasons. Number one if she knows you trust her than she will be less likely to screw up (on purpose anyways). Secondly, it will make her feel like she is worth something. the second thing is communicate on a daily basis. Again it will make her feel like she is worth something (all of the thing I tell you will make her feel like she is worth something). Another thing you could do in is do things with her on a regular basis (corny is highly advised)(but not in public!). Something else if she does something wrong it is probably to get your attention (subconsciously anyways). Sit her down and again Communicate with her. Let her know it was wrong, that you still love her, try to find out why, let her chose her punishment(give her a day or two to think about it), spend a few hour with her just hanging out and do it all in love and as calmly as possible. Even if you don't see the changes for a couple of years doesn't mean it's not working. On the contrary if it at least a month than she is faking and I'd be a bit worried if I were you.
